Chapter 10 - Criminal's District

As Ximen Wei walked through the crowded building, he couldn't help but feel a sense of sorrow for the people sleeping on the floor. Their worn and tattered clothes, paired with the youthful innocence of the children, tugged at his heartstrings. But as he scanned the room, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease when his gaze landed on a group of rough-looking men.

These men were clearly dangerous criminals, with weapons such as clubs, knives, and even swords strapped to their belts. Their faces were hard and rugged, with scars and tattoos adorning their skin. The aura emanating from them was intimidating, filled with a dense killing intent that made Ximen Wei's hair stand on end.

In spite of his fear, Ximen Wei couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity as he made his way through the crowded building. The rough-looking men, with their weapons and intimidating auras, seemed to pay him no attention as he walked by. It was as if he was invisible to them, or perhaps they were simply used to seeing orphans and slave escapees like himself in this district.

Ximen Wei couldn't help but feel a sense of caution as he carefully navigated through the building, aware that he was surrounded by dangerous individuals who wouldn't hesitate to attack if provoked. But as he observed the people around him, he couldn't shake off the feeling of pity for those who were forced to live in such harsh and dangerous conditions. The beggars and orphans, with their worn and tattered clothes, seemed so innocent and helpless, and Ximen Wei couldn't help but wonder how they had ended up in such a place.

For all the fear that lurked in the back of his mind, Ximen Wei continued on his way.

Ximen Wei leaned against the pillar, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. Despite the fact that he was in a den filled with dangerous criminals, he didn't feel threatened in the slightest. No one had shown any malicious intent towards him, allowing him to finally relax and let out a sigh.

'This place can offer me shelter for a while, and I don't think the guards will come here,' he thought to himself. 'Since my safety isn't an issue right now, I need to think of a way to leave this city and start my cultivation journey.'

The thought of cultivating Qi brought a bright light to Ximen Wei's eyes. It was the dream of many young people, and for Ximen Wei, it was his only hope of returning home. Without the supernatural powers of Qi Experts, he knew that he had no chance of reuniting with his family.

'As long as I can become a Qi Expert, I'll be able to return to my home,' he thought, determination shining in his eyes. Cultivating Qi was his primary goal now, and as long as he could do so, he could leave this rotten world and be reunited with his true family.

Ximen Wei couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration as he thought about how to start his cultivation journey. 'How do I go about this though? Where can I find people who are willing to teach me Qi?' he wondered.

He knew that Qi Experts were few and far between, often busy with their own cultivation or enjoying the luxuries of life. Finding someone who was willing to teach him would be a difficult task in itself, and even if he did manage to find such a person, how would he be able to provide sufficient payment? As poor as a pauper, Ximen Wei knew that he wouldn't be able to offer much in terms of compensation, unlike the wealthy nobles such as Song Peizhi.

Qi Experts placed a strong emphasis on equal exchange, and without enough benefits to drive them, they would never agree to teach a stranger their precious cultivation methods. 'Unless I find a cultivation manual? But where would I find such a thing…,' Ximen Wei thought to himself.

He knew that information about Qi cultivation was restricted and not easily accessible. In markets and shops, it would be nearly impossible to find any materials on the subject. Even if he did manage to find a book or manual about cultivation, it would likely only contain superficial information such as stories and legends about Qi Experts. Ximen Wei couldn't help but feel a sense of despair as he realized the obstacles that stood in his way.

From his own personal experience, he had read tens of books about cultivation, yet none of them had mentioned basic concepts such as ranks or techniques.

'Come to think of it, since Song Peizhi knows confidential information about Qi Experts, he must have some sort of manual or techniques that could help me cultivate,' Ximen Wei thought to himself, a malicious glint appearing in his eyes as he began to scheme.

But as he considered the idea further, he knew that it was too risky. The mansion of a noble would have strict security, and if he were caught trying to steal cultivation techniques, he knew that he might never see the light of day again.

Slave escapees who were caught were often executed, with only a few exceptions that fared no better. They were subjected to harsh punishments that could cripple them both physically and mentally. Ximen Wei valued his own safety above all else, and he knew that he wouldn't risk his life unless there was at least an 80% chance of success.

Plus, he was still young, and he believed that he would come across safer and more stable opportunities for cultivating Qi in the future. 'I'm too tired for now, I should sleep,' he thought, hoping that he would find something interesting the next day.

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